Dear Expectant Parents,

We are Geoff and Laura, and we are grateful that you are taking the time to read this letter and review our profile. We hope that it will portray our life, our dream to be a family and the love we have to offer. We know this short introduction cannot express the breadth of our lives and all we have to offer as a family, so we hope for an opportunity to meet you and get to know each other in person. 

We have been married for over four years and they have been wonderful years! Seattle is our home, which we think is the greatest place to live in the whole country. We have a truly happy life, rich with friends, family and a huge range of cultural and outdoor activities. We are very lucky to have a beautiful new home in a vibrant, diverse neighborhood, complete with a big, light-filled bedroom for a baby. We share this home with our sweet, funny, and gentle orange cat named Smudge. The only thing we are missing is a child so that we can be a family.

After several years of trying to have a baby, we realized all that really matters is that we have the chance to be parents. We could love any child. We believe we will be great parents, and are fully committed to open adoption as the path to making that dream come true. We value our families so much and we just want to be able to provide a loving, nurturing, and enriching home for a child.

Laura grew up in Portland, the youngest of four children. She still has family in Portland and we visit often. Her two oldest siblings are adopted, which has provided us with valuable insight into what adoption means to our family.

Laura studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City and lived there for 12 years prior to settling in Seattle. She is very close to her brother, Dan, who also lives in Seattle. About 9 years ago she started her own graphic design business, which she runs out of our house. Laura enjoys yoga and cooking, and loves animals.

Geoff was born in the Seattle area, but also lived in California while growing up. He decided early on that Seattle was where he was at home and chose to go to the University of Washington to get a degree in Architecture. Geoff now runs a small architecture firm near home. Geoff’s mom lives in Seattle, while the rest of his family is in Northern California. Geoff loves kayaking, being involved in community issues, and plays recreational soccer every week with a great group of friends who have been on an adult co-ed team for over a decade.

We truly love to spend time with our family, and manage to stay connected even to the large East coast contingent of Geoff's family — dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. We find plenty of excuses to get together, such as an annual musseling party on the beach in Santa Cruz that his dad co-hosts. This family knows how to have fun!

As you can see from our album, we are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by many close friends and family. We’ve found that by being inclusive and open, we have been able to surround ourselves with people of those same traits. Many of these friends have started families (including friends that have adopted), and this has only enriched the bonds we share. We take part in a variety of events and traditions together and look forward to including a child in this large, extended family of friends.

We consider ourselves adventurous and broad-minded people who love a wide range of activities. We enjoy the outdoors in a variety of ways — how can you not in the Northwest? We also enjoy the arts, and regularly visit the art museum, attend theater and opera performances and, of course, we both have professions are in the arts. Last, but not least, we both love to travel as a way of broadening our understanding of the world. Through our journeys to various countries, we have come into contact with a broad spectrum of people and beliefs.

We can’t wait to share all these interests with a child so they can experience all the world has to offer and become whatever they desire. Even more so, we look forward to nurturing their own unique interests as they explore the world with fresh eyes.

The more we learned about open adoption, the more we knew that it was the right path for us. We live our life with honesty and openness, so we feel strongly that an ongoing connection with the birth family would be the best thing possible for the child, and for everyone involved. Our definition of “family” is already very broad — including step parents, honorary parents, chosen sisters, and unofficial nieces and nephews — and we will truly welcome you and your family into our lives.

We’re excited to forge a relationship with you, which we hope will become close over time. Our vision of open adoption includes celebrating birthdays together, enjoying family time at the zoo or playground, and mutual attendance at school performances or games (geography permitting), in addition to sharing photos regularly and keeping in touch throughout the year. We know that you will have your own wishes, and that your needs may change over time, and we will do everything we can to maintain our ties and ensure you are happy with the arrangement. Most of all, we want to make sure your child is given all the love possible — by you, by us, and by everyone willing to share their love.

Choosing a family to raise your child is a precious gift, both for the adoptive family and for your baby. When we first started to educate ourselves about adoption, we attended a forum where a birth mother spoke about her experience. It was a powerful moment for us as we realized the strength and love that is involved in such a difficult decision. We admire your courage and respect what a loving act this is for your child.

We are honored for any consideration you would give to us as you make this very important decision. We hope this letter and book will demonstrate to you how much love we share with each other and have to offer those in our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Geoff & Laura